Making a claim and getting help | Travel insurance | Insurance | ABI (2024)

FAQs

Making a claim and getting help | Travel insurance | Insurance | ABI? ›

If it is not an emergency, you should call your insurer before you seek medical assistance. If it is an emergency, seek assistance at your nearest appropriate medical facility first and contact your insurer, or have a travel companion contact your insurer, as soon as it is safe to do so.

Travel insurance can give you extra protection if your holiday doesn't go as planned. This is very important if you are travelling independently because you may find yourself stranded with no way to get home and no rep to help sort out your holiday problem.

Note that some travel insurance, especially trip-cancellation coverage, is reimbursem*nt-only: You'll pay out-of-pocket for your expenses, then submit the paperwork to your insurer to recoup your money. (If your trip gets canceled, don't expect insurers to refund policy premiums.)

At the start of filing your claim, any documentation supporting your claim is crucial to have on hand and to submit. Examples include receipts from your trip and proof of paid healthcare costs. These are proof that you paid out of pocket to cover services.

Unfortunately, there's no exact timeline—the amount of time it takes to process a claim tends to vary from case to case and from company to company. In general, however, most claims should be processed within a few weeks (once the insurance company has all the documentation they need).

If you file a claim and we make a payment, it is very likely that your rate will increase at renewal. Because of the incident, you're likely to pay a higher rate for three to five years.

By far, the most common and often most significant travel insurance claim is for medical emergencies. A sudden illness or injury during your trip can not only ruin your plans but also cause a severe financial strain.

Reasonably foreseeable events. Known storms, epidemics, acts of war. Travel restrictions imposed by government authorities. Pre-existing conditions, unless the Premium plan is bought within the window for coverage.

Cost: Travel insurance will add to the overall cost of your trip. Some may choose to forgo it to save money, especially on shorter or less expensive trips. Exclusions and Limitations: Policies may have various exclusions and limitations, so it's essential to read the fine print.

What percentage of travel insurance claims are denied? ›

Legitimate claims

According to the United States Travel Insurance Association, one out of every six insureds ends up filing a claim, and less than 10 percent of those claims are denied. If your travel insurance claim is denied, you may be upset,. However, getting upset is not going to help you.

Travel insurance with Trip Cancellation coverage will cover you if you, a traveling companion or family member come down with an illness before your trip and an in-person visit to a doctor certifies that you're too sick to travel.

Travel insurance usually includes holiday cancellation cover in case your trip is cancelled for reasons beyond your control – illness or the death of a close family member, for example.

An insurer will only refund reasonable costs. If these are too high, you may have to pay for part of them yourself. you didn't take reasonable care. For example, if you left bags unattended or gave them to someone you didn't know and they go missing, the insurer may refuse to pay out.

Here are some examples: The unexpected death, sickness or injury of you, a travelling companion, or a family member. You need to attend the birth of a family member's child. Travel carrier cannot get you to your destination due to a natural disaster or severe weather.

You should notify us of a claim as soon as possible. You can do this online or by calling 0333 333 9702 (1). All claims, however you make them, should be submitted within 60 days of returning from your trip. The exception is when you need 24-hour emergency medical assistance.

Cost: Travel insurance will add to the overall cost of your trip. Some may choose to forgo it to save money, especially on shorter or less expensive trips. Exclusions and Limitations: Policies may have various exclusions and limitations, so it's essential to read the fine print.

Travelling against medical advice or to get medical treatment. If your doctor says it's not safe for you to travel, then you won't be covered. Similarly, if you go abroad to get planned treatment, sometimes called 'medical tourism', a standard policy will not cover this – you'll need specialist insurance instead.

If your travel insurance policy has a money-back guarantee or review period, you can cancel for any reason and receive a full refund within the timeframe if you haven't filed a claim or departed for your trip yet. But you won't get a premium refund if you cancel your policy after the review period.

Your claims history: Unlike car insurance premiums, which often skyrocket after a claim, travel insurance costs are not affected by your claims history.